MochiGuu
New member
Not a happy new year for us 
Some 3 hours ago I've returned from a 14 day vacation at my mom's. My pets had been in my very animal-loving friend's care. I'd explained to her how to feed the axolotls. Tonight I returned to find 6 out of 7 dead. They had been healthy and fluffy-gilled when I left. They still looked well-nourished but their gills had almost completely gone, they were pale, the skin peeling, they were stiff, but sat on the sand as if they were alive. The temperature was 15° Celsius; the local temp in town was between 12 and 19 degrees according to the internet during my absence.
Only the tiny one I had isolated in a basket with only small holes to allow for minimal water circulation has survived and is active and looks very well. I guess the limited flow is what saved him from whatever contaminant did this.
What stood out were the dead ones' red extremities. No injuries, though loss of skin which I guess was post-mortem however.
A few days ago she told me the water was too murky to see through but all were alive and well as far as she could see. I didn't know what could cause the murkiness but as I had left a newly cleaned filter and fat axolotls, and was 2 days from returning, I guessed they'll be fine. Now I found them dead. There couldn't have been any critical overfeeding judging by what's left. The biggest mystery, but likely also clue, is the good state of the little survivor.
I can't really test the water now as all results will be catastrophic due to 6 axolotls rotting in there. The fish are also dead, only the snails lived but I'm leaving them for dead as they are probably contaminated The filter, an external canister, was hot and noisy and seemed to have little to no circulation. But some dirt shouldn't kill them all so fast??
Do you have any theories? I have pictures on request as it's a truly sad sight.
Some 3 hours ago I've returned from a 14 day vacation at my mom's. My pets had been in my very animal-loving friend's care. I'd explained to her how to feed the axolotls. Tonight I returned to find 6 out of 7 dead. They had been healthy and fluffy-gilled when I left. They still looked well-nourished but their gills had almost completely gone, they were pale, the skin peeling, they were stiff, but sat on the sand as if they were alive. The temperature was 15° Celsius; the local temp in town was between 12 and 19 degrees according to the internet during my absence.
Only the tiny one I had isolated in a basket with only small holes to allow for minimal water circulation has survived and is active and looks very well. I guess the limited flow is what saved him from whatever contaminant did this.
What stood out were the dead ones' red extremities. No injuries, though loss of skin which I guess was post-mortem however.
A few days ago she told me the water was too murky to see through but all were alive and well as far as she could see. I didn't know what could cause the murkiness but as I had left a newly cleaned filter and fat axolotls, and was 2 days from returning, I guessed they'll be fine. Now I found them dead. There couldn't have been any critical overfeeding judging by what's left. The biggest mystery, but likely also clue, is the good state of the little survivor.
I can't really test the water now as all results will be catastrophic due to 6 axolotls rotting in there. The fish are also dead, only the snails lived but I'm leaving them for dead as they are probably contaminated
The filter, an external canister, was hot and noisy and seemed to have little to no circulation. But some dirt shouldn't kill them all so fast??Do you have any theories? I have pictures on request as it's a truly sad sight.
